Erfurt: a city confident in its beauty.

Churches, towers and bridges, great culture and glittering festivals: Erfurt offers medieval charm in abundance and a rich history combined with a lust for life and a warm welcome. Situated at the crossroads of ancient German and European trade routes, the regional capital of Thuringia has always been popular with important intellectuals and is a self-assured, proud centre of innovation, as well as a magnet for visitors from around the world.

Martin Luther once praised Erfurt as a 'City of Towers' in reference to the lofty spires and steeples of the city's 25 parish churches, 15 abbeys and monasteries and ten chapels. Especially striking are St. Mary's Cathedral and the Church of St. Severus; together these two masterful examples of German Gothic design form an architectural ensemble like no other in Europe. Inside the cathedral there is a particularly impressive chancel with a series of 13 colourful stained glass windows, each nearly 18 metres high. The cathedral is also home to the magnificent Gloriosa, the world's largest free-swinging medieval bell. Nowadays, the church towers cast their shadows over the lovingly restored half-timbered houses and beautiful Renaissance buildings of the historic city centre, where one of Germany's finest open-air theatre events, the Cathedral Steps Theatre Festival takes place every year. The Augustinian Monastery, in which Martin Luther spent five years of his life, the Prediger Church and the fortifications of Petersberg Citadel are superb examples of medieval and modern-era architecture. The Old Synagogue, Europe's oldest fully intact synagogue, also merits a visit. It houses an exceptional Jewish history museum, featuring a Jewish ritual bath discovered nearby in 2007. But Erfurt is more than just a city of sacred buildings – it is a city of bridges too. 142 of them span the river Gera, its tributaries and the Flutgraben, a broad canal running alongside the former city walls. The most famous of these bridges is undoubtedly the Merchants' Bridge, which has the longest row of inhabited buildings on any bridge in Europe.

Arts and crafts, galleries, cosy wine taverns, music shops and antique dealers are the hallmarks of the Merchants' Bridge, whose Merchants' Bridge Festival is the biggest and best old town festival in Thuringia. Every year, the Middle Ages spring back to life in the lanes surrounding the bridge for a celebration involving ancient crafts, historical song, jesters and a colourful array of stalls. While this may be Erfurt's most famous festival, it's far from its only one. There's also the Petersberg Festival that celebrates military traditions in the heart of the old quarter, and in the early months of the year, carnival brings the party atmosphere to town. In springtime Erfurt's pottery market is full of ceramic treasures, whilst in the summer the flower and garden market transforms the cathedral square into a colourful fairytale scene. The crop market in the autumn, meanwhile, offers local produce such as fruit, vegetables and honey. Every year on 10 November, singing children proceed through the city's streets and alleyways with home-made lanterns, on their way to the Martinmas market. This is done in honour of St. Martin and to commemorate the church reformer Martin Luther. And during Advent, when the Christmas market is up and running, an enticing aroma of cinnamon, ginger, roasted almonds and pfefferkuchen biscuits wafts through the city. But the people of Erfurt don't spend all their time partying; they also like to enjoy the city's cultural treasures such as the Thuringian Folk Museum on Juri-Gagarin-Ring or Anger Museum, the city's art gallery. Another favourite is the municipal museum inside the 'Haus zum Stockfisch', a beautiful Renaissance house. When you're in Erfurt, there's no end of things to look forward to. And in this resplendent city, you may even experience a renaissance of your own.

A medieval shopping mall: the Merchants' Bridge

The oldest secular monument in the most historical part of Erfurt, the Merchants' Bridge was initially made out of wood before being rebuilt in stone in 1325. It is a footbridge connecting Benediktplatz square in the old town centre with Wenigemarkt. On its six arches stand 62 small half-timbered houses with shops and living quarters for the merchants who sold pepper, sugar, saffron and a range of other goods. Today it is home to stores selling arts and crafts, antiques, souvenirs and much more. Unique in Germany, the Merchants' Bridge is also the longest bridge in Europe to have houses lining both its sides.

On the trail of Luther at the Augustinian monastery

The largest of Erfurt's surviving abbeys is that of the Augustinian hermits which was built in 1277. It is an impressive example of medieval monastic architecture and is closely linked with the name of Martin Luther, who lived here as a monk. The Luther exhibition and Luther's room can be viewed on a guided tour of the abbey. The library, which has 60,000 volumes, is one of Germany's most important collections of ecclesiastical literature. Among the 13,000 manuscripts and prints dating from before 1850, the incunabula (early printed documents), the Reformation writings and the Luther editions deserve a special mention. Link zu Spirituelles Reisen -> Luther) Read more (/link)

Jewish culture and the Old Synagogue

The architectural monuments built by Erfurt's Jewish community in the Middle Ages are part of the town's great historical heritage. This includes the almost completely preserved Old Synagogue whose earliest traces date back to 1094 and the mikveh Jewish ritual bath from around 1250, as well as one of the largest and most important collections of ancient Jewish treasures and authentic contemporary manuscripts. Of the few remaining Jewish religious buildings from the Middle Ages, the Old Synagogue is not only the oldest, but also the best-preserved example in central Europe.

An imposing fortification: Petersberg Citadel

Originally owned by the Electors of Mainz, Petersberg Citadel later became a Prussian stronghold in the centre of Erfurt. Among the best preserved citadels in the whole of Europe, it was built in the neo-Italianate style from 1665. As the most northerly fortress, it was later used to defend the Electors' lands against attacks by Protestant forces. The citadel's strategic importance was later recognised by the French and the Prussians who occupied it in the early 19th century. Following the Congress of Vienna in 1815, it became part of Prussia along with Erfurt and was used as a fortification until the German Empire was founded in 1871.

Old Synagogue, Erfurt

The Old Synagogue in Erfurt (1100), which was only rediscovered as such in the 1990s, is the oldest fully intact synagogue in central Europe.

It houses the extensive 14th century Erfurt Treasure, which contains one of only three medieval Jewish wedding rings still in existence and which is remarkable in both content and scope.

Augustinian monastery, Erfurt

The Protestant Augustinian monastery in Erfurt is a unique monument to medieval monastic architecture.

It is also a Reformation site of national and international significance and an established meeting, conference and pilgrim centre. Martin Luther lived and worked here as a monk from 1505 to 1511. Today there is a permanent exhibition with items related to the Bible and the Reformation.

Using our interactive travel planner you can put together your own personalised route through Destination Germany, incorporating all the important information you'll need along the way. It couldn't be easier:

Browse our website for places that you would like to visit.

To add the destination to your travel planner simply click on the icon . You'll find the icon at the end of each article.